Monday, 22 April 2013

Fashion Marmite

Last night i watched this video about 40 plus style - now i have to add at this juncture that most of my friends are younger than me and the last thing we discuss is 40 plus style - as they wouldnt have a clue as to what i was going on about and i quite like to delude myself that i am all down with the kids ??? inwardly cringing .... Having said that, just recently i am feeling the passing of time in oh so many ways. Now i truly do think there are things to celebrate when you get older, the ability to revel in ladylike tailoring - which i so love - and it really isn't a young woman's game particularly - having said that - my god what a dirth there is - soooo boringly cut - hence the soon to be launched Sadie Harris.

Watching the video - and like most things i wasnt there with all of it - at present my figure hasnt changed much - it only ever changes according to what i eat or hormonal bloating and that hasnt changed for the last 30 years! Hence if i want to feel good and for me that equates slim - i pretty much remain hungry with indulgent weekend breaks. My choice and actually not one i strongly recommend. I dont necessarily want to emulate a celebrity, i am not all about a heel, but i really do relate to the questioning that comes with age - should i wear it - am i too old - and the age old am i that mad old woman in the hat???

Last September we were showing at 100% design in Earls Court and i needed to pick up some shoes from Chloe - having bought a very yummy new blouse from them a week before i decided to honour my visit with wearing said yummy green blouse, camel trousers, a fab nude hat with rather dayglo orange and green band - knee high boots and chanel dark bag - well it felt good, somewhat elegant and off i trotted. Chloe loved it, I was asked for a pic by a trendy young blogger, approached by older, extremely well preserved Chelsea gent and declared "stunning, such colour". Well my sartorial head had swelled, not to mention my literal one and it was off to earls court to more compliments from a Made in Chelsea Jamie lookylikey, and a pretty young Swede, i mean this outfit was rocking - out i trot to wait for mr and waft off home on a sartorially successful cloud when i turn around and see 2, 30-something ladies from the cake and bake show, pulling the most disgusted amused faces in my direction - well at that moment i realised - i truly was fashion marmite and they were not liking it!!

So what do you do - become invisible, follow your own style, mix the two or just dress how you feel on the day? How hard is it getting older as a woman - and is it all about just still feeling attractive and is that all about the other sex or not? i dont have the answers but i know i ask the questions xx

And with a hat........

Detail shot - i dont think there is anything more " i am so pleased i am 40 plus plus than an hermes shawl" - how gorgeous - my new fave thing

46 comments:

I've never been much of a numbers guy but I think in fashion algebra the square root of a Chelsea gent is greater than 2 cake & bake ladies to the 3rd power...or something like that.Outfit looks great!

This post was just so so funny! I giggled all the way through it, I have no idea what my 50th decade will bring my way but I know that maintaining my weight is going to be the biggest challenge, it is getting harder and harder, did you see any of the Norman Parkinson documentary last night, I fell asleep so I'm going to watch it tonight, Celia Hammond young and as she is now put me on a major downer, not that I have ever been even near her league of course, but ageing is a bugger!Loved the line about the Hermes shawl.

Tabitha life so makes me giggle at times! and i so know what you mean about the weight - it is such bloody hard work - can it get any harder - i so want to give in to it but i so hate it when i feel the squidge - i wish i could be different - it is ingrained! I didnt and i have just googled her - as i am a complete philistine 90% of the time and can never remember who is who - and that is not old age - just lack of grey cells - she was gorgeous - age is never bloody kind although have you seen Cindy Joseph - she is seriously hot but my skin is already not as good as hers and she has 20 odd years on me! Loving you loving that hermes line - how fab is it ....... xx

I do like what you have chosen to wear here...that shawl is gorgeous.I am too shy to wear many brights at once...but that's beacuse there is a little voice in my head from my childhood. "Mother's mantra was blend darling blend."

i do so know what you mean - i am not great with 'colourblocking' - i tend to be a neutral with a bright - or bright pastel with a neutral - or sometimes - just neutral - you cant do it unless you feel comfortable - it is like trying to walk in an awkward shoe - never a good look x

The questions you posed at the end of your post were really good questions and I think at the end of the day it comes down to what makes you confortable and confident and I think you are one of those ladies who can just about walk to the beat of their own drum and do their own thing because you have an impecable sense of style which I very much envy!!! :)

Thank you what a lovely compliment - and i so agree with you on the comfortable and confident - it is amazing how you can feel anything but in the wrong outfit - or some days it is your skin that feels not quite so comfortable and confident no matter the outfit! x

Ah, I just adore you!!! First of all, why on Earth did you spend 30 minutes of your time watching a video of ladies discussing style who don't even know how to say "Miuccia" or who she is????????? Or be compared to you in both style and look??? I think you look amazing, fabulous and incredibly chic and I feel that you have in in your genes. It has nothing to do with age - it's the aesthetics, understanding, knowledge, life experiences, visuals around you, sense of style - million things... Once it's there (and you certainly posess all these elements), it's hard to make a mistake... I may not be the super stylish person, but I know when it's done right and when it, as my friend put it in words, "hurts the eye". Plus, these days everyone looks younger and the only age you can really refer to is the one you feel is right for you! As for the tailoring - I think the sooner the girl is introduced to such pieces, the better.

And you know... I've been in this "cake and bake" situation a few times, too... Just a few days ago when I proudly showed my neighbour my recent Prada's (so in love with all the colours and absolute discomfort :D )and some pieces I lovingly acquired over the years and the only reaction I got back was a completely confused "are you really going to wear THAT?" look... Where I live, a skirt and high heels -based outfit causes an over-reaction and "you are overdressed again" response. In London this very outfit is pretty much a norm.

Oh Natalia - you really do make me smile - i do so know what you mean - believe you me when in the country i am in a constant cake and back situ - thank god for london - thanks so much for making my day and yes big doggy hugs to you both too xx

Sweetie,you are NEVER going to be invisible with your height/model looks,which will show off your designs to perfection.Love the neutrals with the Hermes shawl,prefer the shawls to their scarves.Judith

Gosh that is very kind - you cant see me today! - i love the shawls too - i have a couple of the scarves and i like them especially when i play with them but the shawls - they are in a totally different league - this is my first one and i am most chuffed with it x

Claire, I so loved reading this! You have exquisite taste and you look absolutely fabulous + you look absolutely fabulous in everything you wear. A stylish woman is a stylish woman, she has no age.I never think in terms of "oh, she is a stylish 20 year-old (by the way, are there that many of these?) or a stylish 50 year-old woman". What really counts is how you feel in what you wear. And of course there's the thing about wearing what suits YOU best, not your age. Ada

Claire, I completely agree with Ada: style has nothing to do with age. If you have a certain style (and eye for fashion), this will accompany you for life. I will soon turn 34 and sometimes I do ask myself "is it OK for me to wear a certain thing", but I think that asking certain questions is also part of the evolution of personal style. BTW, you look so beautiful when you wear light colours and the Hermes shawl is stunning! Caterina

Mrs F & F,My current fav video is by Passion Pit ('Carried Away')and co-stars a most attractive, stylish, & charming young lady by the name of Sophia Bush who could pass for your doppelganger or little sis.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiEwJTOderQShe looks to be a Sadie Harris prototype.

I can see the cake and bake ladies in their Breton tops, skinny jeans and no make up makeup. They were probably just discussing how amazing you looked and were embarrassed to be caught looking! You are beautiful, a cross between BB and Gisele,if I could have looked like that at 20 I would be happy!!

Fashion Marmite what a great phrase. You know I ask the question too. We probably all do. But you are always soooo beautifully turned out. I would run the lenght of Bond Street just to photograph you. You have nothing to fear. You are beautiful and look wonderful always. Xxxx

I'm so glad I clicked back over to your blog, scrolled down and saw this post. I just love the questions you're asking--and have always loved how you style your beautiful fashions in such a way that shows your personality. I have to admit that I live a bit vicariously these days as the way of dressing where I live now is pretty tame compared to my years in Los Angeles and NY. I don't have the answer to any of the questions you raise, but think about things like being age appropriate these days too and tend to shrug it off mostly, but it's always there nagging in the back of my head--nobody wants to feel (too) ridiculous :)

p.s. I really loved what you had to say about fashion bullyingxo Mary Jo

Mary Jo - it is a strange thing getting older - we are supposed to become more confident and in some ways we do - or is that just grumpy and too much to say? but it is a hard adjustment - i wonder if it gets easier? Glad you liked it - it was a good post made me think, me and the man had quite the discussion on our way up to London xx

Being 46 now, strange I had to think for a moment on that one, I think it feels like a death in a way, so looking forward to getting thru this period to when I just have the wisdom role to play... But, I think as was age we come into more of our authentic self.... A relief really to let go of the makeup always and what am I wearing today dance... and having a husband that loves the more natural look helps too... But, YES, this in between stage sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

Being 46 now, strange I had to think for a moment on that one, I think it feels like a death in a way, so looking forward to getting thru this period to when I just have the wisdom role to play... But, I think as was age we come into more of our authentic self.... A relief really to let go of the makeup always and what am I wearing today dance... and having a husband that loves the more natural look helps too... But, YES, this in between stage sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

Pages

Follow me!

Followers

About Me

I have two great loves in life (apart from the man!) and they are Fashion and Frank.
I must have been 6 years old when we lived next door to the lady with the dressing up box in the loft. In that box was a flamenco dress. Suddenly I was not the little girl next door but a glamorous lady, having adventures, grown up and gorgeous! I don't think I ever left that box - the clothes are just [somewhat] less flamboyant!
Frank is my large, canine friend - solid, dependable and just Frank!
He makes me laugh, cry and sometimes quite cross but he is such a constant joy and I think rather handsome! So the perfect companion to my dressing up box!
I started this blog to express these two joys and I hope you will enjoy the journey with me x